2003 National League Division Series

San Francisco Giants vs. Florida Marlins

Game 1, September 30

Turner Field is a stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, home to Major League Baseball's Atlanta Braves since 1997. Turner Field was originally built as Centennial Olympic Stadium, it was completed in 1996 to serve as the centerpiece of the 1996 Summer Olympics...

in Atlanta, Georgia

Atlanta, Georgia

Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...

In Game 1, Kerry Wood

Kerry Wood

Kerry Lee Wood is a National Major League Baseball relief pitcher. Wood recorded over 200 strikeouts in four out of his first five seasons, with a high of 266 in 2003....

faced Russ Ortiz

Russ Ortiz

Russell Reid Ortiz is a retired Major League baseball pitcher. Ortiz played for the Atlanta Braves, Arizona Diamondbacks, Baltimore Orioles, San Francisco Giants, Houston Astros and Los Angeles Dodgers...

. Both pitchers were on their game and in the bottom of the third the Braves struck first when Marcus Giles

Marcus Giles

Marcus William Giles is a former Major League Baseball player. He played second base and batted right-handed. His older brother, Brian Giles, was an outfielder who also played in the Major Leagues.-Career:...

homered to make it 1–0 Braves. The score remained 1–0 until the top of the sixth. The Cubs would load the bases with three consecutive hits to lead off the inning. But Ortiz got the next two outs, with the last of the two being an RBI groundout by Paul Bako

Paul Bako

Gabor Paul Bako II is a catcher in Major League Baseball who is currently a free agent. Bako is an example of a baseball "journeyman", having played for 11 different major league teams during his 12-year career...

. But Wood would add insult to injury by doubling in two runs and then scoring on Kenny Lofton

Kenny Lofton

Kenneth Lofton is a former Major League Baseball outfielder known for his great speed on the base paths as well as in the field, award-winning defensive play , timely hitting, and playful spirit. He batted and threw left-handed...

's single—That made it 4–1 Cubs. A forceout gave the Braves a run in the eighth but Joe Borowski closed the door in the ninth. Combined the Cubs bullpen allowed only three hits.

Game 2, October 1

Turner Field

in Atlanta, Georgia

Atlanta, Georgia

In Game 2, Carlos Zambrano

Carlos Zambrano

Carlos Alberto Zambrano is a Venezuelan professional baseball pitcher with the Chicago Cubs of Major League Baseball. Zambrano, who stands 6' 5" and weighs 260 pounds, was signed by the Cubs as a free agent in 1997 and made his debut in 2001...

faced Mike Hampton

Mike Hampton

Michael William Hampton is a left-handed former Major League Baseball pitcher. During his career, Hampton was well known for being one of the best hitting pitchers of his time, as well as for his large contract and frequent injuries.-Early career:Mike Hampton was drafted by the Seattle Mariners in...

. Hampton immediately ran into trouble in the first when two leadoff walks put two men on for Sammy Sosa

Sammy Sosa

Samuel Peralta "Sammy" Sosa is a Dominican former professional baseball right fielder. Sosa played with four Major League Baseball teams over his career which spanned from 1989-2007....

. Sosa would double in the first run of the game, then Moisés Alou

Moisés Alou

Moisés Rojas Alou |Spanish:]] ; born July 3, 1966 in Atlanta, Georgia) is a former American outfielder in Major League Baseball who played for 17 seasons in the National League. In 1,942 career games, Alou had a batting average of .303 with 2,134 hits, 421 doubles, 332 home runs, and 1,287 runs...

would bring in a run on a fielder's choice. After Aramis Ramirez

Aramis Ramírez

Aramis Nin Ramírez is an All-Star Major League Baseball third baseman for the Chicago Cubs.He started his professional career with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1998, before being traded to the Cubs in 2003. On November 12, 2006, Ramírez signed a five-year deal with the Cubs...

singled to load the bases, Hampton recovered to strikeout six consecutive batters. Hampton struck out Eric Karros, Ramón Martínez and Damian Miller

Damian Miller

Damian Donald Miller is a former Major League Baseball catcher who last played for the Milwaukee Brewers.-High school years:...

to end the first. He then struck out Carlos Zambrano

Carlos Zambrano

, Kenny Lofton

Kenny Lofton

and Mark Grudzielanek

Mark Grudzielanek

Mark James Grudzielanek is a retired Major League Baseball second baseman and shortstop. Grudzielanek played six different teams during his 15-season career. He batted and threw right-handed.-Early years:...

in the second. Sosa led-off the third with a single to end the streak. Hampton's six consecutive strikeouts set a Division Series record and tied an overall postseason record held by three other pitchers: Todd Worrell

Todd Worrell

Todd Roland Worrell is a retired Major League Baseball relief pitcher who played for the St. Louis Cardinals and Los Angeles Dodgers from to ....

in 1985, Moe Drabowski in 1966 and Hod Eller

Hod Eller

Horace Owen Eller was a pitcher in Major League Baseball.Eller started his minor league career in 1913 and was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds after the 1916 season. He pitched five years for the Reds, going 60-40 with a 2.62 earned run average .Eller peaked in the Reds' pennant-winning 1919 season...

in 1919. The Braves would cut the lead in half when Chipper Jones

Chipper Jones

Larry Wayne "Chipper" Jones, Jr. is a Major League baseball player for the National League's Atlanta Braves. Although initially a shortstop, he has spent most of his career as the starting third baseman for the Braves...

forced Mark DeRosa

Mark DeRosa

Mark Thomas DeRosa is a Major League Baseball player. DeRosa is a utility player who has been primarily a second baseman, but can play other positions, including the outfield; he played six positions for the Chicago Cubs. He bats right-handed.DeRosa was selected by the Atlanta Braves in the 7th...

out at second, allowing Rafael Furcal

Rafael Furcal

Rafael Antonio Furcal , is a Major League Baseball shortstop who is currently a free agent.-Early career:...

to score in the bottom half of the first. Then Andruw Jones

Andruw Jones

Andruw Rudolf Jones is a Major League Baseball outfielder who is a free agent.Jones made his debut during the 1996 season. In the 1996 World Series, Jones became the youngest player to ever homered in the postseason...

's RBI single tied the game in the fourth. In the bottom of the sixth, Marcus Giles

Marcus Giles

would give the Braves the lead with an RBI single to left field. A sacrifice fly by Tom Goodwin

Tom Goodwin

Thomas Jones Goodwin is a former Major League Baseball player. He attended Central High School in Fresno, and then went on to play for Fresno State University...

tied the game in the eighth. But Mark DeRosa

Mark DeRosa

's clutch two-out, two-run double put the Braves ahead 5–3 and John Smoltz

John Smoltz

John Andrew Smoltz is an American former Major League Baseball pitcher and active sportscaster. He is best known for his prolific career of more than two decades with the Atlanta Braves, in which he garnered eight All-Star selections and received the Cy Young Award in 1996...

would finish it with a perfect ninth.

Game 3, October 3

Wrigley Field

Wrigley Field is a baseball stadium in Chicago, Illinois, United States that has served as the home ballpark of the Chicago Cubs since 1916. It was built in 1914 as Weeghman Park for the Chicago Federal League baseball team, the Chicago Whales...

in Chicago, Illinois
In Game 3, Greg Maddux

Greg Maddux

Gregory Alan Maddux , nicknamed "Mad Dog" and "The Professor", is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He was the first pitcher in major league history to win the Cy Young Award for four consecutive years , a feat matched only by Randy Johnson...

faced Mark Prior

Mark Prior

Mark William Prior is an American professional baseball pitcher in the New York Yankees organization. He pitched for the Chicago Cubs from 2002-2006. His repertoire of pitches includes a low to mid 90s fastball, a curveball, a slurve, and a changeup.-Amateur career:Prior graduated from the...

. In the bottom of the first, the Cubs put two runs on the board thanks to Randall Simon

Randall Simon

Randall Carlito Simon is a professional baseball first baseman. He has played all or part of eight seasons in Major League Baseball and one in Nippon Professional Baseball between 1997 and 2006. Simon's debut season came with the Atlanta Braves in 1997, for whom he played until 1999...

's two-run single. But no one would be able to score off Maddux or Prior again until the eighth inning. A sacrifice fly by Marcus Giles

Marcus Giles

cut the lead in half after Mark DeRosa

Mark DeRosa

doubled and moved to third on a ground out. But Aramis Ramirez

Aramis Ramírez

would give Prior insurance with an RBI double in the bottom of the eighth. Prior would go on to pitch a complete game two-hit masterpiece. Game 3 would prove to be Maddux's final game with the Braves after 11 seasons, as he returned to the Cubs as a free agent in 2004.

Game 4, October 4

Wrigley Field

in Chicago, Illinois
In Game 4, Russ Ortiz

Russ Ortiz

faced Matt Clement

Matt Clement

Matthew Paul Clement is a former Major League Baseball starting pitcher. Clement played for the San Diego Padres , Florida Marlins , Chicago Cubs and Boston Red Sox . While on the Red Sox active roster, he was injured all of the 2007 season...

, hoping to end the series. Both pitchers held off the opposition until the Cubs broke through in the bottom of the third. Moisés Alou

Moisés Alou

would double in Sammy Sosa

Sammy Sosa

Samuel Peralta "Sammy" Sosa is a Dominican former professional baseball right fielder. Sosa played with four Major League Baseball teams over his career which spanned from 1989-2007....

to give the Cubs a 1–0 lead. But Darren Bragg

Darren Bragg

Darren William Bragg is a former Major League Baseball outfielder who played 11 seasons in Major League Baseball. He played for the Seattle Mariners , Boston Red Sox , St...

's forceout allowed Julio Franco

Julio Franco

Julio César Robles Franco is a former Major League Baseball infielder and designated hitter. In , Franco was the oldest active player in the major leagues at the age of 49....

to score to tie the game in the top of the fourth. Then Chipper Jones

Chipper Jones

's two-run homer gave the Braves a 3–1 lead in the fifth. Then Vinny Castilla

Vinny Castilla

Vinicio "Vinny" Castilla Soria is a former Major League Baseball third baseman who played his best years with the Colorado Rockies and Atlanta Braves...

would add another run later in the inning with an RBI single to make it 4–1. The Cubs would scratch out a run in the sixth, but Chipper Jones

Chipper Jones

's second two-run home run made it 6–2 Braves in the eighth. Eric Karros would give the Cubs a run in the bottom half with a solo homer and then in the ninth the Cubs would score again but John Smoltz

John Smoltz

would get the save and send the series back to Atlanta.

Game 5, October 5

Turner Field

in Atlanta, Georgia

Atlanta, Georgia

In Game 5, Kerry Wood

Kerry Wood

Kerry Lee Wood is a National Major League Baseball relief pitcher. Wood recorded over 200 strikeouts in four out of his first five seasons, with a high of 266 in 2003....

this time faced Mike Hampton

Mike Hampton

. Hampton would once again give up early runs when the Cubs took a 1–0 lead in the first with a Moisés Alou

Moisés Alou

RBI single. Then Alex S. Gonzalez's leadoff homer gave the Cubs a 2–0 lead. Then Aramis Ramirez

Aramis Ramírez

's two-run homer silenced the crowd in the sixth. That made it 4–0 Chicago. An RBI forceout by Gary Sheffield

Gary Sheffield

Gary Antonian Sheffield , nicknamed "Sheff", is an American retired Major League Baseball outfielder. He played for eight major league ball clubs from 1988 to 2009, primarily as an outfielder.-Biography:...

gave the Braves their only run of the night in the sixth. But the Cubs would add a run in the ninth thanks to an error by Vinny Castilla

Vinny Castilla

Vinicio "Vinny" Castilla Soria is a former Major League Baseball third baseman who played his best years with the Colorado Rockies and Atlanta Braves...

to take a commanding 5–1 lead. The Braves would be sent down 1–2–3 in the ninth and the Cubs' win in Game 5 gave the Cubs their first postseason series win since the 1908 World Series

1908 World Series

The 1908 World Series matched the defending champion Chicago Cubs against the Detroit Tigers in a rematch of the 1907 Series. In this first-ever rematch of this young event, the Cubs won in five games for their second consecutive title....

Composite box

2003 NLDS (3–2): Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...

over Atlanta Braves

Atlanta Braves

The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....

San Francisco vs. Florida

The Florida Marlins

Florida Marlins

The Miami Marlins are a professional baseball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. Established in 1993 as an expansion franchise called the Florida Marlins, the Marlins are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Marlins played their home games at...

completed their second winning season in franchise history. The San Francisco Giants

San Francisco Giants

The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....

were the defending NL Champions and making their second straight postseason appearance.

Game 1, September 30

Pacific Bell Park

AT&T Park

AT&T Park is a ballpark located in the South Beach neighborhood of San Francisco, California. Located at 24 Willie Mays Plaza, at the corner of Third and King Streets, it has served as the home of the San Francisco Giants of Major League Baseball since 2000....

in San Francisco, California

San Francisco, California

San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...

In Game 1, Josh Beckett

Josh Beckett

Joshua Patrick Beckett is an American professional baseball pitcher with the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball. During his career in the playoffs, he won the 2003 World Series MVP Award with the Florida Marlins, and received the 2007 ALCS MVP award with the Red Sox.-Florida Marlins :A...

faced Jason Schmidt

Jason Schmidt

Jason David Schmidt , is a former American Major League Baseball pitcher.Schmidt was born in Lewiston, Idaho. In his career he has played for the Los Angeles Dodgers , San Francisco Giants , Pittsburgh Pirates and Atlanta Braves , by whom he had been drafted in the eighth round, 206th overall, of...

and a classic pitcher's duel began. The game remained scoreless until the bottom of the fourth. Two walks to start the inning spelled doom for Beckett, as an error by Miguel Cabrera

Miguel Cabrera

José Miguel Cabrera Torres nicknamed "Miggy", is a Venezuelan professional baseball first baseman with the Detroit Tigers of Major League Baseball. He bats and throws right-handed....

allowed a run to score to make it 1–0 Giants. Both pitchers kept the game close and Beckett would allow only two hits. Schmidt allowed only three hits. Then Edgardo Alfonzo

Edgardo Alfonzo

Edgardo Antonio Alfonzo a.k.a. "Fonzie" is a former Major League Baseball infielder who most recently played for the Yomiuri Giants. He bats and throws right-handed, and is tall and weighs...

's RBI double in the eighth insured Schmidt's complete game victory.

Game 2, October 1

Pacific Bell Park

AT&T Park

in San Francisco, California

San Francisco, California

In Game 2, Brad Penny

Brad Penny

Bradley Wayne "Brad" Penny is a Major League starting pitcher. Penny has spent portions of his career with the Florida Marlins, Los Angeles Dodgers, Boston Red Sox, San Francisco Giants, St. Louis Cardinals and Detroit Tigers....

faced Sidney Ponson

Sidney Ponson

Sidney Alton Ponson is a Major League pitcher who is currently a free agent. According to the Atlantic League website Ponson was placed on the "Retired" list as of June 18, 2010. Ponson stands at 6'1" tall and weighs 260 pounds. He throws right-handed...

. The game would feature six pitching changes for each team as both starters would last less than half the game. An RBI groundout in the top of the first gave the Marlins their first lead in the series. But Barry Bonds

Barry Bonds

Barry Lamar Bonds is an American former Major League Baseball outfielder. Bonds played from 1986 to 2007, for the Pittsburgh Pirates and San Francisco Giants. He is the son of former major league All-Star Bobby Bonds...

would tie the game with a double in the bottom half. The game remained quiet until the bottom of the fourth when Edgardo Alfonzo

Edgardo Alfonzo

Edgardo Antonio Alfonzo a.k.a. "Fonzie" is a former Major League Baseball infielder who most recently played for the Yomiuri Giants. He bats and throws right-handed, and is tall and weighs...

doubled in two runs and then would score on Marquis Grissom

Marquis Grissom

Marquis Deon Grissom is a former Major League Baseball player. He excelled in baseball at Lakeshore High School, under the tutelage of baseball coach Mike Juenger. He currently resides in College Park, Georgia...

's groundout. The Giants now had a 4–1 lead. But the Marlins would tie the game in the next inning, a rally capped by Pudge's RBI single that scored Juan Pierre

Juan Pierre

Juan D'Vaughn Pierre is an outfielder in Major League Baseball who is currently a free agent. He bats and throws left-handed....

. The Giants would recapture the lead with an RBI hit by J.T. Snow in the bottom of the fifth. But Juan Encarnacion

Juan Encarnación

Juan De Dios Encarnación is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. His last major league team was the St. Louis Cardinals...

would homer with one out to tie the game in the sixth. Then Pierre's go-ahead two-run double later in the inning made it 7–5 Marlins. Two more errors allowed two more runs to score and the Marlins would go on to win Game 2, 9–5.

Game 3, October 3

Pro Player Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida

Miami Gardens, Florida

Miami Gardens is a Miami suburban city located in Miami-Dade County, Florida. The city name comes from one of the major roadways through the area, Miami Gardens Drive. According to the 2010 U.S...

In Game 3, Kirk Rueter

Kirk Rueter

Kirk Wesley Rueter is a former left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball, and is the winningest left-hander in San Francisco Giants history. Rueter played for the Montreal Expos and the Giants and made most of his career appearances as a starter. Rueter attended and played for Murray State...

faced Mark Redman

Mark Redman

Mark Allen Redman is a retired Major League Baseball left-handed starting pitcher.-Early career:...

. Eventual NLCS MVP Iván Rodríguez

Iván Rodríguez

Iván Rodríguez Torres , nicknamed "Pudge" and "I-Rod", is a Major League Baseball catcher...

got the scoring started with a two-run homer in the bottom of the first. The game remained quiet with Redman and Rueter dueling until the sixth. The Giants would tie the game thanks to a forceout and a pinch-hit RBI single by Pedro Feliz

Pedro Feliz

Pedro Julio Feliz is a Dominican Republic minor league baseball third baseman for the San Diego Padres of Major League Baseball. Feliz has hit 20 or more home runs in four of his first five seasons as a starting third baseman and is an above average fielder at third base...

. The game would move to extra innings and the Giants would take the lead in the eleventh thanks to an error by Álex González. But the Marlins would strike back in the bottom half. An error by Gold Glove right fielder José Cruz, Jr.

José Cruz, Jr.

José Luis Cruz, Jr. is a retired Major League Baseball outfielder. Over his nine year playing career, Cruz played for eight different teams. Standing 6'0" tall and weighing 210 pounds, Cruz was a right-handed switch hitter...

and a walk put two men on with nobody out. Then a sacrifice bunt moved the runners over. Luis Castillo would forceout a runner at the plate but Pudge would respond with a game winning hit to right field that scored two runs.

Game 4, October 4

Pro Player Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida

Miami Gardens, Florida

Miami Gardens is a Miami suburban city located in Miami-Dade County, Florida. The city name comes from one of the major roadways through the area, Miami Gardens Drive. According to the 2010 U.S...

In Game 4, Jerome Williams

Jerome Williams (baseball)

Jerome Lee Williams is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim of Major League Baseball...

faced Dontrelle Willis

Dontrelle Willis

Dontrelle Wayne Willis , nicknamed "The D-Train", is an American professional baseball pitcher. Willis is notable for his success during his first few years in the league and for his unconventional pitching style, which includes a high leg kick and exaggerated twisting away from the batter...

. In the top of the second, a sacrifice fly put the Giants out in front 1–0. But Rich Aurilia

Rich Aurilia

Richard Santo Aurilia is a former Major League Baseball player, mainly as a shortstop. He bats and throws right-handed.The 24th round pick of the Texas Rangers in the 1992 Major League Baseball Draft, Aurilia worked in the Rangers minor league system before being traded with first baseman Desi...

's error allowed Miguel Cabrera

Miguel Cabrera

José Miguel Cabrera Torres nicknamed "Miggy", is a Venezuelan professional baseball first baseman with the Detroit Tigers of Major League Baseball. He bats and throws right-handed....

to score to tie the game in the bottom half. A double by Iván Rodríguez

Iván Rodríguez

Iván Rodríguez Torres , nicknamed "Pudge" and "I-Rod", is a Major League Baseball catcher...

gave the Marlins the lead in the third. Then Derrek Lee

Derrek Lee

Derrek Leon Lee , or "D-Lee", is a Major League Baseball first baseman. Lee has played with the San Diego Padres , the Florida Marlins , Chicago Cubs , Atlanta Braves , Baltimore Orioles and Pittsburgh Pirates . He bats and throws right-handed.Lee was a World Series Champion with Florida in 2003,...

would single home Rodriguez to make it 3–1. That marked the end of the day for Williams. In the fourth, the Marlins took a commanding 5–1 lead on Cabrera's two-run single. But Willis would run into trouble in the top of the sixth. Three straight hits to begin the inning made it 5–2. Then Barry Bonds

Barry Bonds

's sac fly made it 5–3. Then Edgardo Alfonzo

Edgardo Alfonzo

Edgardo Antonio Alfonzo a.k.a. "Fonzie" is a former Major League Baseball infielder who most recently played for the Yomiuri Giants. He bats and throws right-handed, and is tall and weighs...

would double in a run to make it a one-run game. Willis was finished as well and Brad Penny

Brad Penny

came on in relief. He would get the second out but would relinquish the lead when J. T. Snow

J. T. Snow

Jack Thomas "J. T." Snow, Jr. is a former Major League Baseball player. He played all but two games in his career as a first baseman, and played nine of his 13½ seasons with the San Francisco Giants...

singled home Alfonzo to tie the game. Both bullpens would keep the game quiet until the bottom of the eighth. Félix Rodríguez

Félix Rodríguez (baseball)

Félix Antonio Rodríguez is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher for the Camden Riversharks....

came on in relief for the Giants and immediately ran into trouble after he got two quick outs. He allowed a base hit and hit a batter to put two men on for Cabrera. Cabrera would then single in two runs, thanks to an error by the Giants. They now had a 7–5 lead going into the ninth. With Ugueth Urbina

Ugueth Urbina

Ugueth Urtaín Urbina Villarreal is a former relief pitcher in Major League Baseball. A two-time All-Star, Urbina led the National League in saves with 41 in the 1999 season and helped the Florida Marlins win the 2003 World Series...

coming on to close, the Giants put together a quick rally. A leadoff double and a base hit by Snow made it 7–6. Then Urbina got the next two outs. But Urbina hit a batter to put Snow in scoring position. Then, Snow tried to score on a single to left. Jeff Conine

Jeff Conine

Jeffrey Guy Conine is a former Major League Baseball first baseman/outfielder who played several years with the Florida Marlins. Previously, Conine played with the Kansas City Royals , Florida Marlins , Baltimore Orioles , Philadelphia Phillies , Cincinnati Reds , and New York Mets . He batted and...

's throw was on target, and Rodriguez tagged Snow at the plate as Snow barrelled into him. Rodriguez fell backwards and, as he rose, showed that he held on to the ball preserving the Marlins win. The Marlins won the series three games to one. For the first time in postseason history, a series ended with the potential tying run thrown out at the plate, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

Composite box

2003 NLDS (3–1): Florida Marlins
Florida Marlins
The Miami Marlins are a professional baseball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. Established in 1993 as an expansion franchise called the Florida Marlins, the Marlins are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Marlins played their home games at...

over San Francisco Giants

San Francisco Giants

The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....

External links

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